Grant Hill vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Grant Hill, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Games against each other

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Grant Hill played 18 years in the NBA, 5 more than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Grant Hill had the first of his seasons in 1994-95, while Magic Johnson had his rookie season in 1979-80. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Grant Hill 18 8 1994-95 to 2012-13
Magic Johnson 13 13 1979-80 to 1995-96

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 1994-951979-80
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 70 38.3 19.9 1.8 4.6 6.4 5.0 1.8 0.9 2.9 2.9 7.3 15.2 .477 0.1 0.4 .148 5.3 7.3 .732
Magic Johnson 77 36.3 18.0 2.2 5.6 7.7 7.3 2.4 0.5 4.0 2.8 6.5 12.3 .530 0.1 0.4 .226 4.9 6.0 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson 16 41.1 18.3 3.3 7.3 10.5 9.4 3.1 0.4 4.1 2.9 6.4 12.4 .518 0.1 0.5 .250 5.3 6.6 .802

Season 2

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 1995-961980-81
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 80 40.8 20.2 1.6 8.2 9.8 6.9 1.3 0.6 3.3 3.0 7.1 15.3 .462 0.1 0.3 .192 6.1 8.1 .751
Magic Johnson 37 37.1 21.6 2.7 5.9 8.6 8.6 3.4 0.7 3.9 2.7 8.4 15.9 .532 0.1 0.5 .176 4.6 6.1 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 3 38.3 19.0 1.3 6.0 7.3 3.7 1.0 0.0 2.7 4.3 7.3 13.0 .564 0.3 0.7 .500 4.0 4.7 .857
Magic Johnson 3 42.3 17.0 2.7 11.0 13.7 7.0 2.7 1.0 3.7 4.7 6.3 16.3 .388 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.7 .650

Season 3

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 1996-971981-82
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 80 39.3 21.4 1.5 7.5 9.0 7.3 1.8 0.6 3.2 2.3 7.8 15.7 .496 0.1 0.4 .303 5.6 7.9 .711
Magic Johnson 78 38.3 18.6 3.2 6.4 9.6 9.5 2.7 0.4 3.7 2.9 7.1 13.3 .537 0.1 0.4 .207 4.2 5.6 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 5 40.8 23.6 2.6 4.2 6.8 5.4 0.8 1.0 3.8 2.8 9.0 20.6 .437 0.0 0.0 - 5.6 7.8 .718
Magic Johnson 14 40.1 17.4 3.9 7.4 11.3 9.3 2.9 0.2 3.1 3.6 5.9 11.2 .529 0.0 0.3 .000 5.5 6.6 .828

Season 4

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 1997-981982-83
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 81 40.7 21.1 1.1 6.5 7.7 6.8 1.8 0.7 3.5 2.4 7.6 16.8 .452 0.0 0.3 .143 5.9 8.0 .740
Magic Johnson 79 36.8 16.8 2.7 5.9 8.6 10.5 2.2 0.6 3.8 2.5 6.5 11.8 .548 0.0 0.3 .000 3.8 4.8 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson 15 42.9 17.9 3.4 5.1 8.5 12.8 2.3 0.8 4.3 3.3 6.7 13.7 .485 0.0 0.7 .000 4.5 5.4 .840

Season 5

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 1998-991983-84
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 50 37.0 21.1 1.3 5.8 7.1 6.0 1.6 0.5 3.7 2.3 7.7 16.0 .479 0.0 0.3 .000 5.7 7.6 .752
Magic Johnson 67 38.3 17.6 1.5 5.9 7.3 13.1 2.2 0.7 4.6 2.5 6.6 11.6 .565 0.1 0.4 .207 4.3 5.3 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 5 35.0 19.4 1.4 5.8 7.2 7.4 2.0 0.4 2.4 2.4 8.4 18.4 .457 0.0 0.2 .000 2.6 3.2 .813
Magic Johnson 21 39.9 18.2 1.2 5.4 6.6 13.5 2.0 1.0 3.8 3.4 7.2 13.0 .551 0.0 0.3 .000 3.8 4.8 .800

Season 6

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 1999-001984-85
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 74 37.5 25.8 1.3 5.3 6.6 5.2 1.4 0.6 3.2 2.6 9.4 19.2 .489 0.5 1.3 .347 6.5 8.2 .795
Magic Johnson 77 36.1 18.3 1.2 5.0 6.2 12.6 1.5 0.3 4.0 2.0 6.5 11.7 .561 0.1 0.5 .189 5.1 6.0 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 2 28.0 11.0 0.0 5.5 5.5 4.5 0.5 0.0 5.0 3.5 3.0 8.0 .375 0.5 1.0 .500 4.5 5.0 .900
Magic Johnson 19 36.2 17.5 1.0 6.1 7.1 15.2 1.7 0.2 4.0 2.5 6.1 11.9 .513 0.1 0.4 .143 5.3 6.2 .847

Season 7

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 2000-011985-86
Team Orlando MagicLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 4 33.3 13.8 2.0 4.3 6.3 6.3 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.3 4.8 10.8 .442 0.3 0.3 1.000 4.0 6.5 .615
Magic Johnson 72 35.8 18.8 1.2 4.7 5.9 12.6 1.6 0.2 3.8 1.8 6.7 12.8 .526 0.1 0.6 .233 5.3 6.0 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson 14 38.6 21.6 1.5 5.6 7.1 15.1 1.9 0.1 3.2 3.1 7.9 14.6 .537 0.0 0.8 .000 5.9 7.6 .766

Season 8

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 2001-021986-87
Team Orlando MagicLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 14 36.6 16.8 2.1 6.9 8.9 4.6 0.6 0.3 2.6 2.9 5.9 13.9 .426 0.0 0.1 .000 4.9 5.7 .863
Magic Johnson 80 36.3 23.9 1.5 4.8 6.3 12.2 1.7 0.5 3.8 2.1 8.5 16.4 .522 0.1 0.5 .205 6.7 7.9 .848
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson 18 37.0 21.8 1.6 6.2 7.7 12.2 1.7 0.4 2.8 2.1 8.1 15.1 .539 0.1 0.6 .200 5.4 6.6 .831

Season 9

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 2002-031987-88
Team Orlando MagicLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 29 29.1 14.5 1.4 5.7 7.1 4.2 1.0 0.4 2.9 1.6 5.2 10.6 .492 0.0 0.1 .250 4.1 5.0 .819
Magic Johnson 72 36.6 19.6 1.2 5.0 6.2 11.9 1.6 0.2 3.7 2.0 6.8 13.8 .492 0.2 0.8 .196 5.8 6.8 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson 24 40.2 19.9 1.3 4.1 5.4 12.6 1.4 0.2 3.5 2.5 7.0 13.7 .514 0.3 0.6 .500 5.5 6.5 .852

Note: Grant Hill didn't play in 2003-04.

Season 10

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 2004-051988-89
Team Orlando MagicLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 67 34.9 19.7 1.1 3.6 4.7 3.3 1.4 0.4 2.4 2.1 7.7 15.1 .509 0.0 0.2 .231 4.2 5.1 .821
Magic Johnson 77 37.5 22.5 1.4 6.4 7.9 12.8 1.8 0.3 4.1 2.2 7.5 14.8 .509 0.8 2.4 .314 6.7 7.3 .911
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson 14 37.0 18.4 1.1 4.9 5.9 11.8 1.9 0.2 3.8 2.1 6.1 12.4 .489 0.7 2.5 .286 5.6 6.1 .907

Season 11

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 2005-061989-90
Team Orlando MagicLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 21 29.2 15.1 0.7 3.1 3.8 2.3 1.1 0.3 1.7 2.4 5.7 11.6 .490 0.1 0.4 .250 3.7 4.9 .765
Magic Johnson 79 37.2 22.3 1.6 5.0 6.6 11.5 1.7 0.4 3.7 2.1 6.9 14.4 .480 1.3 3.5 .384 7.2 8.1 .890
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson 9 41.8 25.2 1.3 5.0 6.3 12.8 1.2 0.1 4.0 3.1 8.4 17.2 .490 0.6 2.8 .200 7.8 8.8 .886

Season 12

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 2006-071990-91
Team Orlando MagicLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 65 30.9 14.4 0.8 2.8 3.6 2.1 0.9 0.4 2.2 2.2 5.3 10.2 .518 0.0 0.2 .167 3.8 5.0 .765
Magic Johnson 79 37.1 19.4 1.3 5.6 7.0 12.5 1.3 0.2 4.0 1.9 5.9 12.4 .477 1.0 3.2 .320 6.6 7.3 .906
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 4 35.8 15.0 0.5 5.0 5.5 3.8 0.5 0.3 2.5 2.0 4.8 9.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 8.3 .667
Magic Johnson 19 43.3 21.8 1.2 6.9 8.1 12.6 1.2 0.0 4.1 2.3 6.2 14.1 .440 1.1 3.7 .296 8.3 9.4 .882

Note: Magic Johnson didn't play in 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95.

Season 13

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 2007-081995-96
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 70 31.7 13.1 1.1 4.0 5.0 2.9 0.9 0.8 1.4 2.2 5.1 10.2 .503 0.5 1.5 .317 2.4 2.8 .867
Magic Johnson 32 29.9 14.6 1.3 4.5 5.7 6.9 0.8 0.4 3.2 1.5 4.3 9.2 .466 0.7 1.8 .379 5.4 6.3 .856
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 3 22.7 3.7 1.0 4.3 5.3 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.0 1.0 1.7 3.7 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000
Magic Johnson 4 33.8 15.3 2.0 6.5 8.5 6.5 0.0 0.0 3.0 0.8 3.8 9.8 .385 0.8 2.3 .333 7.0 8.3 .848

Season 14

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 2008-09-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 82 29.8 12.0 0.8 4.2 4.9 2.3 1.1 0.7 1.5 2.2 4.8 9.1 .523 0.3 0.9 .316 2.2 2.7 .808
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 2009-10-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 81 30.0 11.3 0.9 4.6 5.5 2.4 0.7 0.4 1.3 2.0 4.1 8.7 .478 0.4 1.0 .438 2.5 3.1 .817
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 16 28.3 9.6 0.8 5.1 5.8 2.3 0.8 0.6 1.2 2.9 3.7 7.7 .480 0.2 1.0 .188 2.1 2.4 .868
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 2010-11-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 80 30.1 13.2 1.0 3.3 4.2 2.5 0.8 0.4 1.7 2.3 5.0 10.3 .484 0.6 1.4 .395 2.7 3.2 .829
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 2011-12-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 49 28.1 10.2 0.6 2.9 3.5 2.2 0.8 0.6 1.3 1.8 4.1 9.2 .446 0.3 1.1 .264 1.7 2.2 .761
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Grant Hill Magic Johnson
Season 2012-13-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 29 15.1 3.2 0.2 1.5 1.7 0.9 0.4 0.2 0.9 1.3 1.3 3.4 .388 0.1 0.4 .273 0.5 0.8 .583
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 1 20.0 4.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 5.0 2.0 4.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------